Tuscany - 1 week
 

We are planning to travel the Tuscany area for one week in middle of June. We are flying into Rome and were thinking of the following itinary:
From Rome, train to Florence
Florence - 2 nights
Rent car to Cinque Terre - 2 nights
From Cinque Terre - Voltrona Farm-Agriturismo - 2 nights and do day trips
One night in Greve (recommended by a friend)
Drive car back to Rome for one week in Rome.
Does this sound feasible? I know it is busy but we are at information overload right now!
thanks

You will be in the lovely Tuscan countryside for only 2 1/2 days at the most - not nearly enough, IMHO. I would skip either the Cinque Terra or Florence, and knock a few days off Rome perhaps. If you are not big art fans, skip Florence - it will be quite crowded in June. Visit Siena one morning with lunch on the Campo instead.

Also, I would concentrate on either the Chianti area, or southern Tuscany around Pienza. I prefer the latter, with a day trip to San Gimignano & Volterra. Greve is pretty far down on my favorites list. It's OK, but I would not visit it and miss either Montepulciano, Pienza, or Montalcino.

Stop for a visit to Orvieto on the way to Rome. Better yet, return the car in Orvieto & take the train into Rome.

Also, pay attention to where you will be on a Sunday. Most shops in Florence, Volterra, Orvieto and many of the smaller villages will be closed. Monday morning too.

Stu Dudley

Many thanks. In terms of logistics, does this make sense?
From Florence to San Gimignano and stay at an ariturismo near SG -2 nights
Stay in Greve - 1 night
Montelpuciano - 3 nights?
Back to Rome (we have no choice in this one as it is part of a tour we are with)

Irm, combine your nights in central Tuscany. Stay three nights in one location--either San Gimignano or Greve. Both are very nice towns...I enjoyed both very much.

And then move on to Montepulciano for three nights to see southern Tuscany.

That would work. Sounds like you are committed to Greve. Note that San G & Greve are somewhat close together.

If I was not committed to Greve, I would leave Florence before or after lunch & head to Volterra for a visit in the afternoon, trying to make it by 3:00 at the latest (earlier if you want to have lunch there). Then take the short drive over to San G, planning to get there no earlier than 5:30, after the mobs of tourists have left for the day. I would choose to stay in San G, cause it's kinda neat at sunset with the sun shining on the towers. We stay at La Cisterna.

Next day I would have breakfast somwhere on the plaza in front of La Cisterna, then head out for a driving tour of Chianti, which goes through Greve if you follow the suggest driving itinerary in the Michelin Green Guide for Tuscany. Again, don't return to San G. till 6 or so.

Next morning head to Siena for a morning visit & lunch on the Campo. After Siena, stay in Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, or San Quirico for 4 nights. Read recent posts about these 3 villages. You will notice that bobthenavigator and I both perfer this southern Tuscany area over Chianti - that's why I recommend spending more time there than around Greve. Prettier countryside & more interesting villages, IMHO.

Do you have my Italy itinerary that has a high dosage of Tuscany in it?. I have several driving routes in this area. I've sent it to over 400 people on this and the AOL travel boards. e-mail me at Stu [email protected] if you want a copy.

On the way to Rome, hit Orvieto like I suggested.

Stu Dudley